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October 3rd Presidential Debate Street Closures and Other Items

(From the University of Denver regarding the upcoming October 3rd Presidential Debate.)

University of Denver
2199 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208

Greetings Neighbors,

The University of Denver is proud to host the first Presidential Debate on Oct. 3, 2012, at the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness on our campus. While we are pleased to bring one of our country’s biggest political events of the year to the Front Range, we also recognize it will create some inconveniences for those of us who live and work in the University neighborhood.

We wanted to give you, our neighbors, information to help you understand some of these impacts, including parking and road closures.

The Debate

The Presidential debate will take place from 7-9:30 p.m. on the evening of Oct. 3. Live television coverage will begin as early as 6:30 p.m. on some outlets, check local listings. The debate is produced and sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a non-partisan, non-profit organization, which controls all aspects of debate production, including candidate selection, format and moderators. Tickets for the debate will not be available to the general public nor can they be purchased. The University of Denver will be allocated a limited number of tickets by the CPD. Tickets allotted to University of Denver students will be distributed via a random lottery.

DebateFest

Concurrent with the debate will be an event called DebateFest. This free event is a private event open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and DU neighbors. It will feature music, food for purchase, interactive areas, and a debate watch on a jumbo screen. It will be a fun, family friendly event and we hope the University community will join us. The event will require registration and ticket.

NOTE FROM UPCC: Please email debate@upcc.us for tickets.

Neighborhood Impact

The week of the debate, from about Oct. 1 through Oct. 3, some areas on campus will be closed. The University of Denver campus will be closed on Oct. 3.

Please anticipate there will be traffic, parking and access impacts. Preparations for the event will begin around September 21 and continue to build through the end of the debate. Things will start getting back to normal on Oct. 4. Every effort is being made to minimize this inconvenience. We appreciate your cooperation and patience. Please understand that everything being implemented is for safety and security.

About a week before the debate, you will see a fence erected in the area around the Ritchie Center. You will still be able to access the buildings, but do expect that there may be limited entry points. Signs will be posted that will help inform neighbors and visitors to our campus about accessibility.

Alternate and Public Transportation

Beginning about Sept. 21, one lane of Buchtel Avenue will close.

Current plans call for Buchtel Boulevard and Asbury Avenue to completely close Oct. 1 through Oct. 3, from University Boulevard to High Street. This will affect parking for the Buchtel Plaza Apartments and University Park Tower, as access in and out of the parking lots will not be possible. Alternative parking for these two buildings will be offered in the RTD parking garage at the University RTD light rail station. Pedestrian access to these buildings will not be affected.

The RTD Light Rail system will be operating on Oct. 3, but the University Station will be closed. The RTD has agreed to provide special bus service that day from the Colorado/Evans station and the Louisiana/Pearl station to the University neighborhood.

We anticipate traffic near campus will begin to be disrupted about a week before the debate. University Parking and Transportation Services is working diligently to minimize the impact on campus parking.

Plans for an event of this magnitude that includes candidates for the presidency of the United States are always subject to changes. Late adjustments are certainly possible. We will do our best to post the latest information on our debate website, http://debate2012.du.edu. Specific questions may be directed to Chase Squires at Chase.Squires@du.edu.

As valued neighbors, we will continue to update you in the coming weeks about plans, impacts and news regarding the debate.

Thank you again for your patience and we hope you will consider joining us at DebateFest.